The Essential - Menu

Yo' Mama's

➤ 2328 2nd Ave N Birmingham, AL 35203-3808, United States

Menu • Food • Chicken • Waffles • American

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"This restaurant was AMAZING! From the food to the service staff, everything was impeccable! I ordered chicken that was seasoned and fried to perfection! The cheese grits were creamy and did not have to have any salt added to them. The pancakes were huge! They have this homemade syrup that is very good with hints of praline or some kind of nut. They served HUGE pancakes! I will definitely return."

Highlands Bar and Grill

➤ 2011 11th Ave S Birmingham, AL 35205-2801, United States

Menu • Bars • Grill • Vegan • American

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"If there is a restaurant that is a Birmingham institution among the wealthier crowd, there is literally only one name that locals would bring up, and it is undoubtedly Highlands. Not that there aren't other nice restaurants, but this spot has proven itself over time and is ran by a chef that most Alabamians are quite proud of. Opened in 1982, Highland's is a place that put Birmingham on the map in a positive way at a time when the post industrial iron period was about to wind down and transform the city. Frank formalized his cooking techniques by working in kitchens of San Francisco and France, creating a medley of American Southern and French cuisine that is difficult to find elsewhere. It was not a time when it was common to see a chef from Alabama going to study cooking in Europe, thus the story was already an anomaly. Frank Stitt was trying to pioneer sustainable agriculture and farming well before anybody in Alabama knew what in the world that actually meant or for that matter, cared. One of the signature items is the baked grits that has been around since the restaurant opened. It's a tasty grits preparation and without a doubt, something to try. The pheasant was spectacular, fairly lean and with a crispy delicious skin, served with grits and green beans. Pastries here are created by Dolester Miles, who has been in the job for well over 30 years. The opera cake is absolutely spectacular, gentle and complexly layered. The basque cake is peachy and moist, with a crispy delicious exterior and Chantilly cream. Not only are these likely the best desserts to discover in Alabama, but may be some of the best to be found in America. The attentiveness got derail was clearly evident. As far as service, generally fine, but not particularly attentive. The waitress did not seem in much of a mood to welcome people to the establishment. Many items on the menu were running out by 8:30pm on a Saturday night. Nobody was particularly impressed with the flounder that got substituted for the grouper. And then there are other questions, why would you run out of grits? They know they are always filled to capacity and ingredients to make grits are not immediately perishable. Highland's has by this point in Birmingham's history become a classic. It's evident that most people here have been around for decades working at their jobs and serving the rich crowds of Mountain Brook. It's a place of great food and shows many combinations of ingredients that are nearly impossible to find elsewhere, let alone be executed this well."

Galley Garden

➤ 2220 Highland Ave S, Birmingham, United States Of America

Menu • Wine • Vegan • Brunch • American

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"I HIGHLY recommends Galley and Garden for special events! I got the 80. My mother's birthday dinner hosted here last week - and Teri (also coordinator was super easy to communicate, and made the process smooth and easy even though I live out of the country. The menu options (instead of a set catering menu was a really nice touch. And the printed cute menus for every place setting! The food was excellent- (I loved the shrimps and grits! and the service was also very personal and professional - especially Jackson, who was very sweet for my mother. It was a very special day, and I'm so glad we had the party in Galley and Garden!"

Rojo

➤ 2921 Highland Ave S Birmingham, AL 35205-1901, United States

Menu • Bars • Vegan • Brunch • Mexican

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"they love the local atmosphere, eat and look at this mixed menu item. enjoy Mexican or traditional pub foods with the advantages of a full bar and friendly, knowledgeable bartender. street parking, but it is worth looking for a place in the neighbourhood."

Blueprint On 3rd

➤ 3000 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, United States Of America

Menu • Pasta • Cheese • American • Breakfast

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"We started with oysters Rockefeller, which were excellent—definitely something any fine restaurant in a major city would be proud to serve. For our main courses, Cheryl ordered redfish while I went with scallops. The waitress was pleasant and attentive, and our food arrived promptly. The unfortunate part was that we couldn’t properly see our plates; the darkness made it difficult to even tell if we had been served food from another table. There’s an old saying that “the eyes eat first,” and it rang true here; beautifully presented dishes can be highly appealing. By the time we left, I was still quite hungry. My scallops were delicious, earning a solid 4.8 stars from me. However, Cheryl wasn't pleased with her redfish. I asked her about it, and the waitress seemed unsure too. I eventually suggested we swap plates, and when we did, I could barely make out what was on her plate. The first few bites tasted fine, but then the spice kicked in. I usually enjoy spicy food—things like Chinese, Thai, and Mexican—which often have some heat, but this was over the top. My scallops had wonderful, subtle flavors that were very savory, while the redfish was overwhelmed by peppers, making it hard to taste anything else. I found myself ignoring my wine and desperately needing water. As we finished up our meal, our waitress, Danielle, asked if we’d like dessert. I initially said no, but she kindly offered us bread pudding on the house for my birthday. Although it sounded nice, all I could smell was candle wax, and my palate was numb from the spicy fish. I took Cheryl's word that the bread pudding was good, but I couldn't really see it from across the table. So that was my $200 birthday dinner. I don’t think I even finished my wine and I was glad we didn’t splurge on a full bottle. Instead, I kept drinking water, and when the check came, I had to pull out my phone again just to see how much to tip. I honestly don’t plan on going back. Spending $200 for that experience was quite disappointing. Frank Stitt really should be embarrassed, and I wouldn’t recommend Blueprint to anyone. Next birthday, I might just opt for Pizza Hut instead."